Thurdsay night: "I'm going to Kathmandu..."

 It is Thursday night 7:15PM and I am still in the Delhi airport. My Nepal Air flight to KTM is delayed-- now supposed to depart at 8:35. When I flew this airline in December, it was delayed 8 hours, so we'll see when I really get to KTM tonight (or tomorrow). 

My alarm went off at 4:50 AM and I was on the bus from the hotel to the Kochi airport at 5:35. At the airport, I found a breakfast buffet featuring millets. Just yesterday from a fellow Fulbrighter's presentation, I learned about millets. I learned that  2023 is the "Year of the Millets." This nearly forgotten legacy grain has advantages over rice in terms of nutrition and a significantly lower water need. It comes in a wide variety of types as illustrated in one photo below.

I saw the sunrise from the Kochi airport.

This airport has unique and very comfortable waiting area seating.

Afetyr a 3 hour flight, we landed in Delhi. I was booked on a domestic Vistara airlines ticket from Kochi to Delhi and on a separate Nepal Airlines ticket from Delhi to Kathmandu. So I couldn't be checked all teh way through from Kochi to KTM. I had to leave security in Delhi to check in at the Nepal Air counter. But because it only has two flights a day, the counter wouldn't open until 4 hours before the flight. Argh... So I spent 4+ hours waiting in a quiet-ish corner of the main terminal. I found a Krispy Kreme donut for a snack.

After fianlly getting my ticket isseud for Nepal Airlines, I proceeded to the International Departures line (immigration). This is only one of about 6 side-by-side lines. It took me 1.5 hours to get through this line, and then a bit longer to get through security.

Once inside security, I used my remaining Indian Rupees to but another Filet-o-Fish sandwich & fries and a 6-inch Subway turkey sub.

I aw the sunset from the food court.

Dr. Kafle has arranged for a designated taxi to meet my flight and take me to the Kumari Inn. I am expecting to hopefully get there by midnight. I have some 3 zoom and phone meetings with U.S. parties early tomorrow morning, so hopefully everything works out. Then I have nothing else on my schedule tomorrow (except more sleep).