Right ! So getting down to what happened yesterday.. ha ..ha ..ha..

FLIGHT HAPPENED !

The aircraft is the new Airbus A 330-200 and has in this sector only Business and Economy, no first class, as presumed by many from the comments they wrote. So yes, I went Business, no big deal. Been in Economy for years and years. That kind of trains you up for any mode of travel..

The seats are narrower and smaller, but this airline, JET Airways has put in all the possible facilities of a First Class. Except.. all the seats are at an angle to the general seating pattern we are normally acquainted with. So your back is to the window and you are angled more towards the aisle than the front. The left and right of your seat is blocked with partitions that give you privacy and carry all your gadgetry of storage and screen and lights etc., … And yes the seats do flatten out into a bed, only the intelligent Mr Bachchan never discovered this until he was about to land !! Ha !! So coming in past midnight for 6 hours in semi curled up, semi sitting back, semi one leg up one down, semi fitting 6′2” frame in 5′ area.. was enterprising, to say the least.

Hong Kong was a vast airport. This is the new one I think, different from the previous one, where your approach came through in the middle of high rises in frightening proximity. Stretch your hand out while landing and you could grab someone’s morning coffee from his balcony !

We are met with great honor and service. Officials from the State and accommodating staff from the Airline guide us through amiable corridors on golf carts, into a waiting area, with wi fi so I can connect to EF. Mr Shukla from staff reminds me of being from my birthplace, Allahabad, and how he had, when he was smaller in 1984, the time I fought an election from there, touched my ‘kurta’ to check if I was real !! My Father he told me had taught an elder in his family in the University. Another lady staff member attending on us speaking fluent Hindi and looking much like she came from one of our North Eastern States was actually from Pakistan. And yes, very eager to meet Aishwarya.

Hong Kong airport to Macau is on efficient ferry service, turbo jetted, 24 hour service, one every 15 minutes - so ‘kurta toucher’ educated me. It was smooth and lulling as you sailed past immense regions of water lined in the distance by low and picturesque hills and before your jet lag can overcome you into deep sleep, you hit the coast and are ready to be whisked away to even greater hospitality and welcome.

Macau, under Chinese territory, but independent administration; much like Las Vegas, a tourist destination with casinos and great entertainment venues, was under Portuguese rule and occupation for great many years. A colony of theirs. Much like what Goa was in India or Pondicherry was under the French, well.. Puducherry now with changed name. Spellings to be corrected, so excuse. Huge constructions and massive buildings of modern shape and ambience filling up limited space. Long and extended driveways over the waters connecting several smaller islands scattered about the mainland China; even a motor way connecting the mainland. And then the Venetian - a monstrous facility designed just like the city of venice in Italy - the main tower, the waterways and gondolas, the squares and the decor and the atmosphere transporting you to the great city in Europe.

This is the venue for our IIFA this year. And all events shall be held within its precincts under one roof.

DAMN !!!

Everything got erased again !! Arrrrgggghhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh !!! and some more…..

Wrote another 100 words and the internet connect switched off. It was only valid for 24 hrs and it went off in the middle of my writing. Lost, lost lost to the cyber world. If you catch it anywhere… send it back to me..

All right have calmed down a bit. Shall attempt it again … but later.. now its time to depart..

My love to you as always…

Amitabh Bachchan