One

ON THE WINGS OF OMAN AIR.... Murali and yours truly have started on a holiday to Switzerland and then a road trip into the Umbria region of Italy. Our Swiss couple friends Matina and Bruno Jehle will host us at Wepfi, their beautiful home in Gontenshweil. Akhila and Ravi, a couple I have oft mentioned will fly in from London and join us on the 3rd after catching up with a young couple friend of theirs at Zurich. Matina has planned the itinerary and I await long walks, pastoral scenes and a lot of pizza and wine. I have worn my walking shoes (?) But am already bugged by them. If you watch American films they are always in their shoes, even when they hit the sofa or the bed. Allowing a little bit of cinematic privilege, how the hell do you keep your feet covered for so long. But then it is not that I like to walk barefeet either. This foot fetish of mine has been maniacal since I had a bout of chicken guniya and the impact remained on my feet. This here trip will be different because it will be unhurried and hopefully none of us are looking for destinations. In fact I want to do this in India and stay over in small towns, waking up to their drumbeat. I think I have found a friend-in-arm in Meera, once she settles down in the new house. She is having a hectic time currently. We took Oman Air, which as airlines go seem as popular with the crowds as any other airline, yet they are a lot cheaper than Emirates, which flew just a half hour before ours took off to break at Muscat. The staff is as uncaring, though the stewards are cute and the meal like all others, without any soul. My first halt at Muscat. Huge airport, badly managed crowd, rude attendants but quick exit. We got to sit in an extremely uncomfortable chair for 30 mnts before we were checked in. Murali, by the way, was on his best behaviour, all attentive and generally being there. Our second leg from Muscat to Zurich was longer and as soon as we got in, they gave us an impressive menu card which talked about seasonal salad of carrots and green peas, which is a winter vegetable and which in India starts arriving in December, and so I presume we are going into a cold country and so they welcome us with peas. But instead they served us cold, buttered corn, with a light dusting of chives. The pasta was decent but the double chocolate mousse was nice and they had mentioned shavings of chocolate. Redefining shavings����. We are obviously travelling economy and have to cross a few Business Class comfortable chairs. I tried to flirt into an upgrade and the guy very charmingly turned me down saying 'since it was not my birthday.' Must learn not to believe in Google tips. We were planning to take a train to our friend's place but they are coming to pick us up. Incidentally we are allowed 30 kgs per pax and we ended up checking in 60 kgs. Good Lord! What am I carrying? Handloom is that much more heavier and since one is not the jeans and T-shirt type either, lots of clothes. Have to learn to pack. In a back pack. Travel light. That is also something to be learnt from certain Westerners, who make do with few clothes and yet manage to look well dressed. Or maybe I just imagine that. But I do have too many clothes.. Of course there is lots of ready-to-eat-food. Just about 8 hours and I am craving something hot and spicy.... Have to learn to eat local. Can spice it up to suit the palate. For tea they served us a cold roll with an unidentifiable filling, with a very fragrant tea and coffee. There are always saving graces.