Today, I made a very long journey :)

We left for the airport ay 615am. Not a pleasant time in the morning, that is for sure. After some difficult goodbyes, at home and with the parents at the airport we were on our own. Until we found Adam that is. We did the airport breakfast and soon found it time to go to the gate - Qatar airlines are very strict on punctuality, and we were told and check in to be at the gate at 9am sharp.

It was time for the long and first leg of our journey, to Doha, Qatar, settling in was easy, the airline is fantastic. The economy seats are relativity roomy and they have a great on demand movie and TV selection – making the 7-hour flight seem a little shorter.

Doha airport – well, Hannah and I have a delightful 19 hour lay over here on our return journey, so we were interested to see what there was – the answer? Not a lot….at all. It will be a long 19 hours.

After a brief wait in what can only be described as a small holding pen, we were off to Ahmedabad, and on very little sleep we were all itching to arrive.

We touched down at 4.40am, local time (approx. 12.40am GMT), and joined the endless queue at passport control. We hurried out of the airport, eager to meet Deepak (the Indian equivalent to Anna Fox on the scholarship and principal of NID) or meet the taxi to take us to NID, and the hope of a nap and change of clothes.

We had no such luck.

We were not greeted by anyone from NID.

None of us had any Rupees.

The adventure begins.  Due to the lack of local currency, a taxi was impossible, and with Deepak not at NID and unable to reach us we had a small struggle on our hands. Andy (one of the others in the group) managed to get back through customs – where there was a currency exchange booth, only to find it was closed.  Meanwhile, the five of us remaining outside were entertaining ourselves, Ollie was skateboarding, much to the amusement of the locals, Hannah and I were bug spotting, and Adam and Chris were chatting and exchanging disapproving words about the lack of transport/organisation.

All of which came to a swift halt as a young girl approached with her even younger brother and asked to take a photograph of Hannah, which turned into group photos and a couple with her little brother. As the day continued, this was a common thing, as we stare out into the vast unknown, trying to absorb this other world, there are ten thousand eyes staring back, as if we are rare animals in a safari park. Often smiles, waves, a cheerful ‘Good morning’, or the loud honking of a passing tuk tuk, van or car accompany the stares, making them less uncomfortable and much more humorous!

After wandering to InfoCity, a near by complex that has shops and ATMs we returned for some much needed sleep.

Hannah's and My room for the next month.

After the walk to InfoCity...my feet were a little more than dusty!