Fascinating India: SQ F on the 773, Fairmont Jaipur, MH J on the A333 + LCC in India
Jan 26, 2014, 10:02 pm
#46
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AI441 Delhi Indira Gandhi DEL - Aurangabad IXU - Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji BOM
Original STD-STA: 16:45-18:55
Actual: 16:49-18:16/18:59-19:33
Airbus A321-200 VT-PPB
Gate 30A to 28B Seat 31F
Air India, I read all about the negative publicity and I had not wanted to take this airline considering there are other better ones in India to choose from. However when Air India was advertising fares on the DEL-BOM route to be operated by a 777-300ER, I bought that ticket expecting a widebody airline serving a direct flight 2 major cities in India. Turns out to be a really bad move...
Air India check-in counter at Delhi
Indira Gandhi terminal 3 departures
My hired driver dropped me off at the Indira Gandhi International Terminal 3 from where Air India domestic flights depart from. On check-in I could not find the counters for my flight numbers and was directed to one of the other check-in rows which was empty and was supposed to handle check-in for Ahmedabad. That was when I knew something was up and turns out my flight was not operating that day at all and Air India has re-routed me through Aurangabad. The worst part of this was the agent did not even mention the new expected arrival time to Mumbai to me. In fact when questioned, she just told me to refer at the boarding gates. It was one of the worst experiences on check-in with an agent that seemed nonchalant that a passenger who was supposed to fly on a direct flight got re-routed. Apparently AI cancelled several Mumbai flights, and I am thinking this could be due to foggy weather.
Departure terminal airside for domestic flights
The good thing was that Delhi’s new airport terminal is swanky and after the immigration counters, passengers are routed through the Duty Free just like in Sydney and London, as they get passengers to shop. Behind it was a large departure concourse with lots of seating and bright areas. On the second floor was where the lounges are along with a food court. There was also a variety of shops around the terminal selling books and other travel essentials.
Air India boarding pass
Since I did not have lunch yet, I headed to the food court and got myself KFC for a snack, and I was expecting to purchase some drinks from the stall next to it since I wanted some mango juice. However, there was no service personnel at all. Such is the service standards in India it seems. No one seems to care at all since there is not even a sign indicating when the attendant would return. Even after 20 minutes when I finished my fried chicken, there still was no one to be seen in the drinks stall! Amazing really!
After my small snack, I proceeded to find my boarding gate and noticed a gate change from the one indicated in the boarding pass. The gate has moved from 30A to 28B and I was able to spot my plane as it was parked close to the main atrium. At least the new airport has good views especially with the sunset in Delhi.
Air India Airbus A321 that would bring me to Mumbai
I waited by the gate for a further 15-20 minutes before boarding was called at around 16:15. Surprisingly the passengers were quite organized in queueing and it was quite an orderly process. Not as bad as I expected and I have seen worse boarding before. Though I do have to note that a couple of passengers did not seen to realize the flight is not a direct one to Mumbai since I had an elderly woman who was not expecting the stopover in Aurangabad at all.
Onboard Air India’s A321
I was able to be one of the first to board the plane after all the other priority passengers and proceeded to what would be the absolute last row on the A321. Let’s just say the seat pitch was not the best though at least I did get a window seat. There was also a personal TV screen in every seat but I never got around to use it since there was no headphones provided at all.
Air India Airbus A321 economy class seats, taken in Aurangabad
Air India route map on its inflight magazine
Boarding took a while and after it was completed, the announcement mentioned that Captain Indranee Singh would take us the whole journey into Mumbai via Aurangabad. The flight to Aurangabad was full and the experience was really different from SQ First. Turns out the guy in the middle seat was a rotund guy and I really wondered how he would cope during the flight. Fortunately the guy in the aisle and me are lean. One thing I noted was that the guy in the middle asked for water during boarding and was provided with one. At least there was some level of service in the cabin and it seems they still do their best to cater to Economy class passengers.
Wings of the A321
For the first portion of the flight to Aurangabad, the meal choice was veg or non-veg but my meal tray did not come with cutleries. And here I thought Indians have brought the culture of eating with hands to the skies! Anyway it took some time for me to grab the attention of a crew before I got my cutleries. I chose the non-veg option and had a tandoori chicken with some beans pastry. There was also a dessert bowl and a pack of sandwiches. Cabin crew also came around with coffee or tea after they finished serving everyone their meal tray.
Inflight meal of chicken tandoori, the bottle of mango juice was mine
My seat mate did order a veg option and it comprised of samosas and pastries which seems like a better option. In addition to the meal, there was a small booklet with some scratch-and-win offer where you can pay a certain fee to redeem the items. It was more like a gimmick to get passengers to ‘buy’ these items since all 3 of us got the lower priced items. Overall, the meal was fine and perhaps better than nothing at all.
Sunset over central India
Enjoyed my iPad entertainment during the flight and it was a beautiful sunset as we descent into Aurangabad. Both seat mates in my row disembarked at Aurangabad, as this place is apparently a site for Hindu worship. One of my seat mate was an American Buddhist who would be spending 2 months plus on a pilgrimage here. The landing was uneventful and beautiful due to the sunset and we made a stop in the airport of around 25 minutes.
Descent into Aurangabad
During this time, there was a flurry of activities, the first being security personnel coming onboard and asking whose baggage it was on the overhead bins to ascertain that there was no left baggage by disembarking passengers. Then the cleaners came in to do some cleaning but they did not even clear the newspapers my seat mate placed on the seat back.
Air India economy class cabin with the security personnel checking the luggage
I was able to take some shots of the aircraft during this time though I do not think passengers continuing to Mumbai are allowed out of the aircraft. Not long after the security check and cleaners were done with their duties, new passengers boarded but the continuing flight proceeded to Mumbai with several empty seats. In fact the last row would be quite empty except for those passengers who boarded from Delhi. Thus I had 3 seats all to myself this time round.
Emergency exit row seats
Last row seats on the Airbus A321
The next flight is forecast to take 35 minutes and I was surprised when they serve refreshments for the continuing flight too! Refreshment was a small pack of mango beverage and packet of nuts. In addition, the cabin crew also obliged my request for a bottle of water. before we landed into Mumbai.
Mango juice and peanuts
Mineral water bottle on request
Arrival in Mumbai was not as nice as Delhi but it was still an adequate airport in my experience since we arrived at the ‘International’ terminal which was better. The baggage claim took about 20 minutes before I head over to the taxi counter to order a pre-paid taxi headed to the Grand Hyatt Mumbai.
Economy class onboard the A321
For my first time onboard Air India, I was sorely disappointed with the ground handling of the flight and non-existent service or communication to passengers. On the other hand the flight was adequate but comparing to other domestic flights in Economy, I cannot say it offers a pleasant experience. From the crew forgetting my cutleries and tattered inflight magazines to the full flight, it was not my best flight nor my worst flight. But Air India is still not an airline I would likely to fly again. As they say, once bitten, twice shy!
Business class onboard Air India’s A321
Arrival hall at Mumbai
Original STD-STA: 16:45-18:55
Actual: 16:49-18:16/18:59-19:33
Airbus A321-200 VT-PPB
Gate 30A to 28B Seat 31F
Air India, I read all about the negative publicity and I had not wanted to take this airline considering there are other better ones in India to choose from. However when Air India was advertising fares on the DEL-BOM route to be operated by a 777-300ER, I bought that ticket expecting a widebody airline serving a direct flight 2 major cities in India. Turns out to be a really bad move...
Air India check-in counter at Delhi
Indira Gandhi terminal 3 departures
My hired driver dropped me off at the Indira Gandhi International Terminal 3 from where Air India domestic flights depart from. On check-in I could not find the counters for my flight numbers and was directed to one of the other check-in rows which was empty and was supposed to handle check-in for Ahmedabad. That was when I knew something was up and turns out my flight was not operating that day at all and Air India has re-routed me through Aurangabad. The worst part of this was the agent did not even mention the new expected arrival time to Mumbai to me. In fact when questioned, she just told me to refer at the boarding gates. It was one of the worst experiences on check-in with an agent that seemed nonchalant that a passenger who was supposed to fly on a direct flight got re-routed. Apparently AI cancelled several Mumbai flights, and I am thinking this could be due to foggy weather.
Departure terminal airside for domestic flights
The good thing was that Delhi’s new airport terminal is swanky and after the immigration counters, passengers are routed through the Duty Free just like in Sydney and London, as they get passengers to shop. Behind it was a large departure concourse with lots of seating and bright areas. On the second floor was where the lounges are along with a food court. There was also a variety of shops around the terminal selling books and other travel essentials.
Air India boarding pass
Since I did not have lunch yet, I headed to the food court and got myself KFC for a snack, and I was expecting to purchase some drinks from the stall next to it since I wanted some mango juice. However, there was no service personnel at all. Such is the service standards in India it seems. No one seems to care at all since there is not even a sign indicating when the attendant would return. Even after 20 minutes when I finished my fried chicken, there still was no one to be seen in the drinks stall! Amazing really!
After my small snack, I proceeded to find my boarding gate and noticed a gate change from the one indicated in the boarding pass. The gate has moved from 30A to 28B and I was able to spot my plane as it was parked close to the main atrium. At least the new airport has good views especially with the sunset in Delhi.
Air India Airbus A321 that would bring me to Mumbai
I waited by the gate for a further 15-20 minutes before boarding was called at around 16:15. Surprisingly the passengers were quite organized in queueing and it was quite an orderly process. Not as bad as I expected and I have seen worse boarding before. Though I do have to note that a couple of passengers did not seen to realize the flight is not a direct one to Mumbai since I had an elderly woman who was not expecting the stopover in Aurangabad at all.
Onboard Air India’s A321
I was able to be one of the first to board the plane after all the other priority passengers and proceeded to what would be the absolute last row on the A321. Let’s just say the seat pitch was not the best though at least I did get a window seat. There was also a personal TV screen in every seat but I never got around to use it since there was no headphones provided at all.
Air India Airbus A321 economy class seats, taken in Aurangabad
Air India route map on its inflight magazine
Boarding took a while and after it was completed, the announcement mentioned that Captain Indranee Singh would take us the whole journey into Mumbai via Aurangabad. The flight to Aurangabad was full and the experience was really different from SQ First. Turns out the guy in the middle seat was a rotund guy and I really wondered how he would cope during the flight. Fortunately the guy in the aisle and me are lean. One thing I noted was that the guy in the middle asked for water during boarding and was provided with one. At least there was some level of service in the cabin and it seems they still do their best to cater to Economy class passengers.
Wings of the A321
For the first portion of the flight to Aurangabad, the meal choice was veg or non-veg but my meal tray did not come with cutleries. And here I thought Indians have brought the culture of eating with hands to the skies! Anyway it took some time for me to grab the attention of a crew before I got my cutleries. I chose the non-veg option and had a tandoori chicken with some beans pastry. There was also a dessert bowl and a pack of sandwiches. Cabin crew also came around with coffee or tea after they finished serving everyone their meal tray.
Inflight meal of chicken tandoori, the bottle of mango juice was mine
My seat mate did order a veg option and it comprised of samosas and pastries which seems like a better option. In addition to the meal, there was a small booklet with some scratch-and-win offer where you can pay a certain fee to redeem the items. It was more like a gimmick to get passengers to ‘buy’ these items since all 3 of us got the lower priced items. Overall, the meal was fine and perhaps better than nothing at all.
Sunset over central India
Enjoyed my iPad entertainment during the flight and it was a beautiful sunset as we descent into Aurangabad. Both seat mates in my row disembarked at Aurangabad, as this place is apparently a site for Hindu worship. One of my seat mate was an American Buddhist who would be spending 2 months plus on a pilgrimage here. The landing was uneventful and beautiful due to the sunset and we made a stop in the airport of around 25 minutes.
Descent into Aurangabad
During this time, there was a flurry of activities, the first being security personnel coming onboard and asking whose baggage it was on the overhead bins to ascertain that there was no left baggage by disembarking passengers. Then the cleaners came in to do some cleaning but they did not even clear the newspapers my seat mate placed on the seat back.
Air India economy class cabin with the security personnel checking the luggage
I was able to take some shots of the aircraft during this time though I do not think passengers continuing to Mumbai are allowed out of the aircraft. Not long after the security check and cleaners were done with their duties, new passengers boarded but the continuing flight proceeded to Mumbai with several empty seats. In fact the last row would be quite empty except for those passengers who boarded from Delhi. Thus I had 3 seats all to myself this time round.
Emergency exit row seats
Last row seats on the Airbus A321
The next flight is forecast to take 35 minutes and I was surprised when they serve refreshments for the continuing flight too! Refreshment was a small pack of mango beverage and packet of nuts. In addition, the cabin crew also obliged my request for a bottle of water. before we landed into Mumbai.
Mango juice and peanuts
Mineral water bottle on request
Arrival in Mumbai was not as nice as Delhi but it was still an adequate airport in my experience since we arrived at the ‘International’ terminal which was better. The baggage claim took about 20 minutes before I head over to the taxi counter to order a pre-paid taxi headed to the Grand Hyatt Mumbai.
Economy class onboard the A321
For my first time onboard Air India, I was sorely disappointed with the ground handling of the flight and non-existent service or communication to passengers. On the other hand the flight was adequate but comparing to other domestic flights in Economy, I cannot say it offers a pleasant experience. From the crew forgetting my cutleries and tattered inflight magazines to the full flight, it was not my best flight nor my worst flight. But Air India is still not an airline I would likely to fly again. As they say, once bitten, twice shy!
Business class onboard Air India’s A321
Arrival hall at Mumbai
Jan 27, 2014, 11:12 am
#47
Join Date: Apr 2005
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It is so fun to read your report! Yes, I agree Air India is like an airline from a socialist past. I also tried IndiGo and it is like from a different country! On departure they do announcements like "It is now 2:05 pm and doors were closed 2 minutes before scheduled departure". No free food, though.
You were lucky to arrive at the international terminal in Mumbai. It is much nicer. Also IIRC, the domestic terminal does not have pre paid taxi booths.
You were lucky to arrive at the international terminal in Mumbai. It is much nicer. Also IIRC, the domestic terminal does not have pre paid taxi booths.
Jan 27, 2014, 7:54 pm
#50
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It is so fun to read your report! Yes, I agree Air India is like an airline from a socialist past. I also tried IndiGo and it is like from a different country! On departure they do announcements like "It is now 2:05 pm and doors were closed 2 minutes before scheduled departure". No free food, though.
You were lucky to arrive at the international terminal in Mumbai. It is much nicer. Also IIRC, the domestic terminal does not have pre paid taxi booths.
You were lucky to arrive at the international terminal in Mumbai. It is much nicer. Also IIRC, the domestic terminal does not have pre paid taxi booths.
Indeed, an eye-opener on how the classic Indian airlines function, and ultimately why they fail miserably.
Thank you Andy290, I would spend more time in Delhi next time I visit India
Jan 27, 2014, 8:39 pm
#51
Join Date: Apr 2010
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I've been to India twice and it was certainly a unique experience - especially to attend a couple of Indian weddings.
At the same time, there were a lot of things that were a pain in the butt to deal with - similar to what you've highlighted here. I'm glad I went but not really in a hurry to go back again.
At the same time, there were a lot of things that were a pain in the butt to deal with - similar to what you've highlighted here. I'm glad I went but not really in a hurry to go back again.
Jan 28, 2014, 5:32 pm
#52
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I've been to India twice and it was certainly a unique experience - especially to attend a couple of Indian weddings.
At the same time, there were a lot of things that were a pain in the butt to deal with - similar to what you've highlighted here. I'm glad I went but not really in a hurry to go back again.
At the same time, there were a lot of things that were a pain in the butt to deal with - similar to what you've highlighted here. I'm glad I went but not really in a hurry to go back again.
Jan 28, 2014, 5:36 pm
#53
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Grand Hyatt Mumbai
The drive from the airport to the Grand Hyatt should not take long but because this is Mumbai with grid-locked traffic, it took about nearly half an hour or so to reach the hotel. First impressions of Mumbai was that it was much busier than Delhi. The Grand Hyatt Mumbai is not located in the city centre, and rather located in a rather new area with some empty land around it. If you do find the hotel's location from Google Maps, it is actually close to the airport.
Reception lobby
As the name sounds, this is a truly grand hotel, and could also be classified as a convention hotel as guests arrive at the large foyer with stairs that leads up to the lobby or down to the function areas. With a lot of rooms, this hotel was very busy with many business travellers and it was very lively in the lobby when I arrived in the evening around 8pm. However I was told to proceed to the Grand Club lounge for check-in and I figured might as well so that I can check out the club lounge too.
Grand Club lounge
The club lounge was located on the 1st floor which is technically the second floor since the main lobby is at the ground floor. Check-in was a bit long and took some time before a room was assigned. Fortunately the process was with me seated.
I was assigned a normal club king room that was located just one floor above the club lounge. There was a set of stairs connecting both 1st and 2nd floor. The first thing that came to mind was how the layout of the room was similar to the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu. The bathroom has 2 doors leading to the bedroom, one from the entry foyer and the other from the bedside.
Bathroom console
Inside the bathroom, there was a bathtub with the shower stall in one section and a toilet in the other. The bathroom amenities are also quite nice and seems to be an Indian brand with the sweet scent of Honey and Vanilla. The bathtub also included a beautiful lavender soap and bath salts. I generally like this bathroom layout as it meant the wardrobe is located within the bathroom itself.
Bathroom in the Grand Club Room
Bathroom amenity
Lavender bath soap and salts
For the bedroom itself, it was quite small, and perhaps due to the suites and grand rooms I had in the last couple of days, it seems modest by comparison. But do not get me wrong, I still like this hotel and room a lot since it felt cosy. I attribute it to the Hyatt decor of using warm wood tones and the whole room just clicked. There was a couch at the corner, a comfortable King bed, a glass-topped work desk with 2 chairs, and a good-sized flatscreen TV.
Grand King Room
Bedroom at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai
However the main draw of this hotel has got to be the scale of the artworks that is curated by the hotel. In fact one of the perks I enjoyed was that walking into the hotel feels like visiting a contemporary art museum. The lobby foyer hosts several sculptures inlaid with Indian art and forms a very inviting entrance to the hotel.
Sculptures around the lobby foyer
And then there is the beautiful courtyard in the middle of the hotel with a conical sculpture that is inlaid with stained glass and mirrors to create a reflecting mosaic. Coupled with the moonlit night and the lights celebrating the festive Christmas season with a Christmas tree, it made for a bright atmosphere.
Beautiful courtyard
Conical sculpture in moonlit night
In addition to sculptures and contemporary art pieces, the hotel also has several paintings with that showcases modern Indian art in the public spaces like the elevators and around the function space.
Paintings around the elevator lobby
Contemporary artwork around the function area
Another venue with a lot of paintings would be the Indian restaurant named Soma. In fact the hotel houses several big restaurants including a Chinese restaurant that serves Peking Duck. Probably that was why there was some Chinese guests staying in the hotel. I did have my dinner at Soma that night and ordered a set meal comprising of pomfret in curry as the main course. The usual appetizer plate of papadums and assorted chutneys were served first and again I did nearly finish them as I could live with them every meal!
Chutneys and papadum
Somehow the curry in southern India lacks the kick or spiciness of its northern varieties. While the pomfret was alright, the curry was just not flavourful enough. In fact I think I had better fish (fish head) curries in Singapore. However the main course had something I immensely enjoyed. I ordered garlic naan as the roti accompaniment for the main course. It was like a garlic snowflake pizza from this popular Korean restaurant called 'Mad for Garlic' except without cheese and pineapples. But it tasted real good and left me wanting for more!
Dinner of pomfret curry
Finally for dessert, I had the 'malai kulfi', a well known dessert that was one of the choices in Bukhara as well. This was actually an Indian ice-cream flavoured with saffron. This was one dessert I actually enjoyed in India. The taste was not that sweet and had a fragrant and nice lingering after taste. It felt like the traditional ice cream of yesteryears which I had in my childhood.
Dessert of Malai Kulfi
The dinner was actually not too bad, even if it was not my favourite meal in India, it was one of the most beautiful restaurants I have been to. For guests staying in the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, I recommend a meal in the Soma restaurant.
Artwork in Soma restaurant
Breakfast was complimentary for Club Room guests and Hyatt Diamond members and I had it in the Club Lounge. There was a small a-la-carte menu but there was not a wide choice of food on the buffet counter itself. A slightly lacking breakfast compared to other Grand Hyatt properties I have been to. One thing I enjoyed was the hazelnut twist pastry that they had. I also had paratha with curry for breakfast from the a-la-carte menu.
Breakfast spread at the Grand Club
Reception lobby
As the name sounds, this is a truly grand hotel, and could also be classified as a convention hotel as guests arrive at the large foyer with stairs that leads up to the lobby or down to the function areas. With a lot of rooms, this hotel was very busy with many business travellers and it was very lively in the lobby when I arrived in the evening around 8pm. However I was told to proceed to the Grand Club lounge for check-in and I figured might as well so that I can check out the club lounge too.
Grand Club lounge
The club lounge was located on the 1st floor which is technically the second floor since the main lobby is at the ground floor. Check-in was a bit long and took some time before a room was assigned. Fortunately the process was with me seated.
I was assigned a normal club king room that was located just one floor above the club lounge. There was a set of stairs connecting both 1st and 2nd floor. The first thing that came to mind was how the layout of the room was similar to the Hyatt Regency Kota Kinabalu. The bathroom has 2 doors leading to the bedroom, one from the entry foyer and the other from the bedside.
Bathroom console
Inside the bathroom, there was a bathtub with the shower stall in one section and a toilet in the other. The bathroom amenities are also quite nice and seems to be an Indian brand with the sweet scent of Honey and Vanilla. The bathtub also included a beautiful lavender soap and bath salts. I generally like this bathroom layout as it meant the wardrobe is located within the bathroom itself.
Bathroom in the Grand Club Room
Bathroom amenity
Lavender bath soap and salts
For the bedroom itself, it was quite small, and perhaps due to the suites and grand rooms I had in the last couple of days, it seems modest by comparison. But do not get me wrong, I still like this hotel and room a lot since it felt cosy. I attribute it to the Hyatt decor of using warm wood tones and the whole room just clicked. There was a couch at the corner, a comfortable King bed, a glass-topped work desk with 2 chairs, and a good-sized flatscreen TV.
Grand King Room
Bedroom at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai
However the main draw of this hotel has got to be the scale of the artworks that is curated by the hotel. In fact one of the perks I enjoyed was that walking into the hotel feels like visiting a contemporary art museum. The lobby foyer hosts several sculptures inlaid with Indian art and forms a very inviting entrance to the hotel.
Sculptures around the lobby foyer
And then there is the beautiful courtyard in the middle of the hotel with a conical sculpture that is inlaid with stained glass and mirrors to create a reflecting mosaic. Coupled with the moonlit night and the lights celebrating the festive Christmas season with a Christmas tree, it made for a bright atmosphere.
Beautiful courtyard
Conical sculpture in moonlit night
In addition to sculptures and contemporary art pieces, the hotel also has several paintings with that showcases modern Indian art in the public spaces like the elevators and around the function space.
Paintings around the elevator lobby
Contemporary artwork around the function area
Another venue with a lot of paintings would be the Indian restaurant named Soma. In fact the hotel houses several big restaurants including a Chinese restaurant that serves Peking Duck. Probably that was why there was some Chinese guests staying in the hotel. I did have my dinner at Soma that night and ordered a set meal comprising of pomfret in curry as the main course. The usual appetizer plate of papadums and assorted chutneys were served first and again I did nearly finish them as I could live with them every meal!
Chutneys and papadum
Somehow the curry in southern India lacks the kick or spiciness of its northern varieties. While the pomfret was alright, the curry was just not flavourful enough. In fact I think I had better fish (fish head) curries in Singapore. However the main course had something I immensely enjoyed. I ordered garlic naan as the roti accompaniment for the main course. It was like a garlic snowflake pizza from this popular Korean restaurant called 'Mad for Garlic' except without cheese and pineapples. But it tasted real good and left me wanting for more!
Dinner of pomfret curry
Finally for dessert, I had the 'malai kulfi', a well known dessert that was one of the choices in Bukhara as well. This was actually an Indian ice-cream flavoured with saffron. This was one dessert I actually enjoyed in India. The taste was not that sweet and had a fragrant and nice lingering after taste. It felt like the traditional ice cream of yesteryears which I had in my childhood.
Dessert of Malai Kulfi
The dinner was actually not too bad, even if it was not my favourite meal in India, it was one of the most beautiful restaurants I have been to. For guests staying in the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, I recommend a meal in the Soma restaurant.
Artwork in Soma restaurant
Breakfast was complimentary for Club Room guests and Hyatt Diamond members and I had it in the Club Lounge. There was a small a-la-carte menu but there was not a wide choice of food on the buffet counter itself. A slightly lacking breakfast compared to other Grand Hyatt properties I have been to. One thing I enjoyed was the hazelnut twist pastry that they had. I also had paratha with curry for breakfast from the a-la-carte menu.
Breakfast spread at the Grand Club
Jan 28, 2014, 5:37 pm
#54
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A Day in Mumbai
Prior to visiting India, Mumbai did not really attract me in any way, and thus I had only half a day for sightseeing in the city. After having breakfast at the Grand Hyatt, I hired a taxi for 4 hours to bring me around town. As I mentioned in my previous post, the Grand Hyatt Mumbai is located in the northern part of town near the airport, while Mumbai's city centre is located in the south by the bay with waterfront views. Luckily for me, the Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link that connects and shortens the route between the 2 areas was complete. However the mistake I had was that I did not negotiate on the pricing of the cab to include toll fees and the driver wanted to jack up the price by more than twice the toll fee was. Fortunately I spot the rates which was written in English as well.
Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link
There was a queue for the sea link, but this stop meant I could savour the skyline of Mumbai from this vantage point. The real traffic begins past the sea link and my smart driver had to stop and fill up for natural gas. I know I was not rushing for time, but it still costed valuable time and the cab I was on is not exactly the cleanest. From the gas station, there was still another 20 minutes drive through Mumbai traffic which is really slow but we did pass the first point of interest being Haji Ali Bay. Located in the middle of this bay is the Haji Ali Mosque and is also the tomb to a wealthy Muslim merchant. What is unique about the mosque is that it can be accessed only during a low tide as the pathway linking the mosque to the mainland is submerged during a high tide. The white-washed walls of the mosque also cuts a fine silhouette against the blue sky and water of the bay.
Driving along Haji Ali Bay
From the Haji Ali bay, there was still some time before we reached the Gateway of India as we passed several high end mansions along Pedder Road like the Jindal Mansion and caught a glimpse of the skyscraper residence of Mukesh Ambani also known as Antilia. This part of town is probably where the moguls of Mumbai live in and thus resulting in the city to have some of the most expensive real estate in the world.
Mumbai's infamous traffic on Pedder Road with Antilia, Mukesh Ambani's residence in the distance
From Pedder Road, my hired driver went past Marine Drive and passing through what is known as the Queen's Necklace and this area is supposedly beautifully lit up at night and certainly looks impressive in the day as well. There is a waterfront promenade along this stretch of the bay with a view of Mumbai's skyline.
Promenade with a view of Mumbai's skyline
Gateway to India and Taj Mahal Hotel
Gateway to India Monument
Other sights to take note in the area besides the Taj Mahal hotel and the Gateway itself would be the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century. Many of Mumbai's major venues have been named after him including the airport and the main railway station.
Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji
The next sight on my trip to Mumbai was the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST for short. This is the major railway terminal in Mumbai and was known formerly as the Victoria Terminus. The station facade itself is a sight to behold and its gothic influences blends in very well with the rest of the buildings in this area. Inside the railway station itself, one can see the hustle and bustle of an Indian city and experience all the sights and sound of passengers rushing to and from their train.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The short visit to Mumbai gave me a glimpse of the financial center of India where the business moguls reside and the pace of urban development in this city seems to mirror the growth of the Indian economy. On the way back, I asked the driver to stop by the Marine Drive so I may get down and take a photo of the city skyline from the promenade. If I had more time, I would definitely explore the waterfront area as well as the various colonial era architecture in this city.
Mumbai waterfront along Marine Drive
Comparing Mumbai to Delhi is like sizing up Shanghai to Beijing. And I would say that for first time visitors, a visit to the historical capital of Delhi would provide a richer history of the country since that is where all the major sights are located at. However seasoned travellers and urbanites might enjoy the financial center of Mumbai much more due to a good mix of sights and luxury along with a more impressive city setting by the bay.
Haji Ali in black & white
Rajiv Gandhi Sea Link
There was a queue for the sea link, but this stop meant I could savour the skyline of Mumbai from this vantage point. The real traffic begins past the sea link and my smart driver had to stop and fill up for natural gas. I know I was not rushing for time, but it still costed valuable time and the cab I was on is not exactly the cleanest. From the gas station, there was still another 20 minutes drive through Mumbai traffic which is really slow but we did pass the first point of interest being Haji Ali Bay. Located in the middle of this bay is the Haji Ali Mosque and is also the tomb to a wealthy Muslim merchant. What is unique about the mosque is that it can be accessed only during a low tide as the pathway linking the mosque to the mainland is submerged during a high tide. The white-washed walls of the mosque also cuts a fine silhouette against the blue sky and water of the bay.
Driving along Haji Ali Bay
From the Haji Ali bay, there was still some time before we reached the Gateway of India as we passed several high end mansions along Pedder Road like the Jindal Mansion and caught a glimpse of the skyscraper residence of Mukesh Ambani also known as Antilia. This part of town is probably where the moguls of Mumbai live in and thus resulting in the city to have some of the most expensive real estate in the world.
Mumbai's infamous traffic on Pedder Road with Antilia, Mukesh Ambani's residence in the distance
From Pedder Road, my hired driver went past Marine Drive and passing through what is known as the Queen's Necklace and this area is supposedly beautifully lit up at night and certainly looks impressive in the day as well. There is a waterfront promenade along this stretch of the bay with a view of Mumbai's skyline.
Promenade with a view of Mumbai's skyline
Gateway to India and Taj Mahal Hotel
Gateway to India Monument
Other sights to take note in the area besides the Taj Mahal hotel and the Gateway itself would be the statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji, the founder of the Maratha kingdom in the 17th century. Many of Mumbai's major venues have been named after him including the airport and the main railway station.
Statue of Chhatrapati Shivaji
The next sight on my trip to Mumbai was the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus or CST for short. This is the major railway terminal in Mumbai and was known formerly as the Victoria Terminus. The station facade itself is a sight to behold and its gothic influences blends in very well with the rest of the buildings in this area. Inside the railway station itself, one can see the hustle and bustle of an Indian city and experience all the sights and sound of passengers rushing to and from their train.
Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
Inside the Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus
The short visit to Mumbai gave me a glimpse of the financial center of India where the business moguls reside and the pace of urban development in this city seems to mirror the growth of the Indian economy. On the way back, I asked the driver to stop by the Marine Drive so I may get down and take a photo of the city skyline from the promenade. If I had more time, I would definitely explore the waterfront area as well as the various colonial era architecture in this city.
Mumbai waterfront along Marine Drive
Comparing Mumbai to Delhi is like sizing up Shanghai to Beijing. And I would say that for first time visitors, a visit to the historical capital of Delhi would provide a richer history of the country since that is where all the major sights are located at. However seasoned travellers and urbanites might enjoy the financial center of Mumbai much more due to a good mix of sights and luxury along with a more impressive city setting by the bay.
Haji Ali in black & white
Jan 28, 2014, 8:02 pm
#55
Join Date: Apr 2013
Posts: 220
Peddar Road was expensive 40 yrs ago. It is probably much more so now.
Marine drive was crowded then and full of traffic in the evening.
Looks deserted in your pictures.
The place looks less crowded that I would imagine for Mumbai. Especially the train station.
Did you go on a holiday?
Marine drive was crowded then and full of traffic in the evening.
Looks deserted in your pictures.
The place looks less crowded that I would imagine for Mumbai. Especially the train station.
Did you go on a holiday?
Jan 29, 2014, 4:16 am
#56
Join Date: Jan 2011
Posts: 278
Great shots - and great trip. Did you say it's an EOS 5d? The depth of field is fantastic.
What month were you there? I'm surprised it's so clear, for winter, in Delhi (though not in Agra).
tsatsor, what month were you in Agra? Very clear shot there.
What month were you there? I'm surprised it's so clear, for winter, in Delhi (though not in Agra).
tsatsor, what month were you in Agra? Very clear shot there.
Jan 29, 2014, 6:41 pm
#59
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
Peddar Road was expensive 40 yrs ago. It is probably much more so now.
Marine drive was crowded then and full of traffic in the evening.
Looks deserted in your pictures.
The place looks less crowded that I would imagine for Mumbai. Especially the train station.
Did you go on a holiday?
Marine drive was crowded then and full of traffic in the evening.
Looks deserted in your pictures.
The place looks less crowded that I would imagine for Mumbai. Especially the train station.
Did you go on a holiday?
I think as long as you avoid the street stalls, you should be fine.
Jan 29, 2014, 6:43 pm
#60
Original Poster
Join Date: Apr 2010
Location: CGK
Programs: FlyingBlue | Krisflyer | SPG | HHonors
Posts: 1,563
JetKonnect flight Mumbai to Goa
S2 4016 Mumbai Chhatrapati Shivaji BOM - Goa Dabolim GOI
Code share: 9W 7009
STD-STA: 1635-1745
Actual: 1658-1743
Boeing 737-700 9W-SJI
Gate 4 Seat 11A
Driven in a Camry to the airport
For club guests staying at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, there was complimentary drop-off at the airport and I was provided with a Toyota Camry that was equipped with towels and water. The 10 minute ride was a relaxing ride as the hotel car dropped me off at Terminal 1B and I arrived early when the queue for check in was still not too long. This meant a short wait of approximately 15 minutes and one senior check-in agent passed me the boarding pass, while indicating boarding will not be announced.
Check-in and departure concourse
The check-in area in the older Mumbai airport terminal was slightly antiquated and definitely not as good as the one in Delhi. Security check in the airport was a huge hassle, with electronics needing to be taken out, including my camera and lenses! And here I was thinking there would be no one worse than the TSA.
Boarding pass for the JetKonnect flight
Past security, the waiting area was another huge mess. Not only was there not enough seats but the place was dark, noisy and feels more like a market than an airport terminal. It seems like only Air India uses the jet bridge here as all other domestic flights board by bus. A row of desks and doors acted as gates with a small and crowded holding area for multiple flights, and this would be fitting for a small rural town airport. Come on Mumbai, for a city that sports one of the most expensive real estate, you cannot even spare money to upgrade the airport?
Waiting area at the domestic terminal
Boarding was by bus and multiple lines emerged when the process started which made it chaotic. The worst part of it was when the bus reached the plane it was actually not ready for boarding yet! And we were held in the hot and stuffy bus in front of the plane as the crew prepares the plane. Again, what were the Jet Airways staff thinking, or was there even any communication between the terminal agents and the cleaning staff at all? I have never experienced something like this and it definitely gave a bad impression on Jet Airways and how airline management works in India.
Boarding the 737-700
There was a small business class area when boarding through the front, which is weird since JetKonnect was supposed to be the low-cost subsidiary of Jet Airways. This airline is just having difficulties in streamlining its operations. I had a window seat in the front portion of the plane and my first impression was that JetKonnect is perhaps on par with Air India, but it was still an old plane with lots of advertisements on the plane. The cabin does not seem to be well maintained and does not give an impression on Jet Airways at all.
Side profile of JetKonnect's 737
From the remote stand, I had a nice view of the various airlines of India as we passed by numerous airlines to the runway before we took off in the afternoon sun providing me a nice view of Mumbai's suburbs.
SpiceJet 737 at Mumbai
Take-off from Mumbai
Aerial views of the suburbs of Mumbai
Anyway this was a short flight and being operated by JetKonnect, this meant there was no catering for passengers at all. However there was a buy-on-board menu at the seat back pocket with drinks starting from 50 Rupees (~US$0.90) while snacks and hot meals could range between 120-300 Rupees (~US$2-5). Generally very reasonable prices and I would have ordered something if the flight was longer.
Onboard JetKonnect's 737-700
Sky café menu
Since it was an afternoon flight and I had a window seat, I spent most of the flight gazing at the hilly landscapes with lakes and dams. There was also some inflight reading materials on the seatback pocket that should keep one sufficiently occupied before the plane started its descent into Goa. There was an announcement regarding how photos were forbidden in Goa's airport due to the military operations within the airport.
Jet Wings inflight magazine
A dam somewhere in south-west India
Thus the last photos I took was that of the sunset landing with the coast of Goa seen in the distance. There were more photos when I disembarked from the plane since some other passengers were also taking photos and with the new airport terminal under construction much of the military activity was covered. Disembarking was once again by stairs and passengers were ushered into a bus for a short drive to the airport terminal which is perhaps within walking distance.
Coastline of Goa
While the airline is not one I would likely fly with again, I did enjoy the sunset flight and the plane spotting especially when landing at Goa. It was indeed my first time landing at an airport with that much military presence. It was also fascinating to see the military aircrafts of India while taxiing towards the terminal. Naturally no photos of these as I did not want to break any laws involving national security on the last leg of my Indian trip!
Sunset at Goa Dabolim airport
JetKonnect 737 at Dabolim airport
There was not a long wait for my luggage and the old terminal is just like those old airports found in small resort towns. Reminds me a bit of the airport at the Maldives and in Denpasar, Bali. On exiting the terminal, I managed to catch hold of the representative from Grand Hyatt Goa and got on a private car ride onboard a Toyota Corolla sedan for a 30 minute ride to the resort.
Code share: 9W 7009
STD-STA: 1635-1745
Actual: 1658-1743
Boeing 737-700 9W-SJI
Gate 4 Seat 11A
Driven in a Camry to the airport
For club guests staying at the Grand Hyatt Mumbai, there was complimentary drop-off at the airport and I was provided with a Toyota Camry that was equipped with towels and water. The 10 minute ride was a relaxing ride as the hotel car dropped me off at Terminal 1B and I arrived early when the queue for check in was still not too long. This meant a short wait of approximately 15 minutes and one senior check-in agent passed me the boarding pass, while indicating boarding will not be announced.
Check-in and departure concourse
The check-in area in the older Mumbai airport terminal was slightly antiquated and definitely not as good as the one in Delhi. Security check in the airport was a huge hassle, with electronics needing to be taken out, including my camera and lenses! And here I was thinking there would be no one worse than the TSA.
Boarding pass for the JetKonnect flight
Past security, the waiting area was another huge mess. Not only was there not enough seats but the place was dark, noisy and feels more like a market than an airport terminal. It seems like only Air India uses the jet bridge here as all other domestic flights board by bus. A row of desks and doors acted as gates with a small and crowded holding area for multiple flights, and this would be fitting for a small rural town airport. Come on Mumbai, for a city that sports one of the most expensive real estate, you cannot even spare money to upgrade the airport?
Waiting area at the domestic terminal
Boarding was by bus and multiple lines emerged when the process started which made it chaotic. The worst part of it was when the bus reached the plane it was actually not ready for boarding yet! And we were held in the hot and stuffy bus in front of the plane as the crew prepares the plane. Again, what were the Jet Airways staff thinking, or was there even any communication between the terminal agents and the cleaning staff at all? I have never experienced something like this and it definitely gave a bad impression on Jet Airways and how airline management works in India.
Boarding the 737-700
There was a small business class area when boarding through the front, which is weird since JetKonnect was supposed to be the low-cost subsidiary of Jet Airways. This airline is just having difficulties in streamlining its operations. I had a window seat in the front portion of the plane and my first impression was that JetKonnect is perhaps on par with Air India, but it was still an old plane with lots of advertisements on the plane. The cabin does not seem to be well maintained and does not give an impression on Jet Airways at all.
Side profile of JetKonnect's 737
From the remote stand, I had a nice view of the various airlines of India as we passed by numerous airlines to the runway before we took off in the afternoon sun providing me a nice view of Mumbai's suburbs.
SpiceJet 737 at Mumbai
Take-off from Mumbai
Aerial views of the suburbs of Mumbai
Anyway this was a short flight and being operated by JetKonnect, this meant there was no catering for passengers at all. However there was a buy-on-board menu at the seat back pocket with drinks starting from 50 Rupees (~US$0.90) while snacks and hot meals could range between 120-300 Rupees (~US$2-5). Generally very reasonable prices and I would have ordered something if the flight was longer.
Onboard JetKonnect's 737-700
Sky café menu
Since it was an afternoon flight and I had a window seat, I spent most of the flight gazing at the hilly landscapes with lakes and dams. There was also some inflight reading materials on the seatback pocket that should keep one sufficiently occupied before the plane started its descent into Goa. There was an announcement regarding how photos were forbidden in Goa's airport due to the military operations within the airport.
Jet Wings inflight magazine
A dam somewhere in south-west India
Thus the last photos I took was that of the sunset landing with the coast of Goa seen in the distance. There were more photos when I disembarked from the plane since some other passengers were also taking photos and with the new airport terminal under construction much of the military activity was covered. Disembarking was once again by stairs and passengers were ushered into a bus for a short drive to the airport terminal which is perhaps within walking distance.
Coastline of Goa
While the airline is not one I would likely fly with again, I did enjoy the sunset flight and the plane spotting especially when landing at Goa. It was indeed my first time landing at an airport with that much military presence. It was also fascinating to see the military aircrafts of India while taxiing towards the terminal. Naturally no photos of these as I did not want to break any laws involving national security on the last leg of my Indian trip!
Sunset at Goa Dabolim airport
JetKonnect 737 at Dabolim airport
There was not a long wait for my luggage and the old terminal is just like those old airports found in small resort towns. Reminds me a bit of the airport at the Maldives and in Denpasar, Bali. On exiting the terminal, I managed to catch hold of the representative from Grand Hyatt Goa and got on a private car ride onboard a Toyota Corolla sedan for a 30 minute ride to the resort.