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So we made the 48hr trip from Bangalore to Stanford yesterday.
Here's what happened:
1/n
Here's what happened:
1/n
First, why we decided to leave.
We felt there was a tiny window of opportunity before US-India borders closed again. Wife's Stanford PhD was already suffering, kids were already out of school in India and all of us were in this perpetual limbo.
2/n
We felt there was a tiny window of opportunity before US-India borders closed again. Wife's Stanford PhD was already suffering, kids were already out of school in India and all of us were in this perpetual limbo.
2/n
It began 10 days ago when @airindiain opened new evacuation flights to the US.
90% of them are from DEL.
At 5pm, when the website opened, we were ready with 2 laptops x 2 browsers & 3 phones. Basically @IRCTCofficial Tatkal days all over again.
3/n
90% of them are from DEL.
At 5pm, when the website opened, we were ready with 2 laptops x 2 browsers & 3 phones. Basically @IRCTCofficial Tatkal days all over again.
3/n
Tip: Air India apps are much more functional than the website. Make sure you sign up to their FF program a day in advance and set up all passenger details & credit card beforehand.
4/n
4/n
Regardless, none of that worked. The app/website crawled to a halt. Money got deducted but tix weren't booked. That's ~1L for a one-way ticket. Not for the faint-hearted.
3hrs later, we'd given up and gone off to sleep. At 1am, wifey decided to check again & we got lucky.
5/n
3hrs later, we'd given up and gone off to sleep. At 1am, wifey decided to check again & we got lucky.
5/n
Now that was set, we had a few days to set things in order. Book BLR-DEL flight (easy) and find a hotel to stay in Delhi for the 12hr layover (not so).
And yes, say bye to lifelong friends and pack for a new life.
6/n
And yes, say bye to lifelong friends and pack for a new life.
6/n
Bangalore airport experience was stellar - truly contactless. Print boarding passes beforehand, run them through barcode scanners, security behind plexiglass etc.
The airport wore a deserted look.
7/n
The airport wore a deserted look.
7/n
Domestic flights don't give any food, so like pakka desis, we made our "arrangements": methi paratha, mathri and "baalu shahi" to sweeten the deal 
8/n
8/n
The flight itself was uneventful. We were the only family with kids and the anxiety was palpable. Everyone dressed to the heel in PPEs. @airvistara did a great job in making sure everyone had face shields, middle seats had overalls, etc.
9/n
9/n
In Delhi, we got picked up by a Novotel car and ended up staying for 12hrs in a ghost hotel. Half-a-dozen guests across 300-400 rooms.
Apparently staff hasn't stepped out of the hotel for 70+ days.
Perfect for The Shining 2
10/n
Apparently staff hasn't stepped out of the hotel for 70+ days.
Perfect for The Shining 2
10/n
At midnight, we were back at the airport for our Air India direct flight to SF. Some usual AI confusion but otherwise, staff being thoughtful in these anxious times. The crowd here was very different - lots of older people travelling by themselves, families with kids etc.
11/n
11/n
I feared Indian immigration the most. The counters were deserted, and the only moment of comic relief was the incredulous officer who couldn't believe that I, the Great Indian Male, was going on a *dependent* visa.
Oh the horror!
12/n
Oh the horror!
12/n
16hrs with two young kids, no entertainment system, and food packed in a polythene bag is a recipe for a nightmarish journey.
But our kids were such troopers - they made the most of their "astronaut" outfits.
Meanwhile, wifey was caught sanitizing the sanitizer
13/n
But our kids were such troopers - they made the most of their "astronaut" outfits.
Meanwhile, wifey was caught sanitizing the sanitizer
13/n
US immigration at SFO was a complete contrast.
Long lines but the shocking part was no thermal scanners or temperature checks anywhere. No one bothered to collect our health declaration forms either.
14/n
Long lines but the shocking part was no thermal scanners or temperature checks anywhere. No one bothered to collect our health declaration forms either.
14/n
We did get pulled up by the Customs guy who checks for all the masalas us desis tend to load up on! And the incredulous officer who couldn't believe we were paying rent on an empty house in the Bay Area for the past 3 months.
All in all, just like the good ol' times
15/n
All in all, just like the good ol' times
15/n
An Uber ride and an hour later, we were back home in Stanford.
Kids were ecstatic, and the drizzle turned to sunshine just in time.
My daughter, bless her, made scrambled eggs and pasta for lunch while we snored away our jet lag.
16/n
Kids were ecstatic, and the drizzle turned to sunshine just in time.
My daughter, bless her, made scrambled eggs and pasta for lunch while we snored away our jet lag.
16/n
Stanford has a deserted look but the few people we saw weren't wearing masks, incl kids in the playground.
The contrast is striking.
Anxiety, even paranoia in India with it's 10K deaths and a relaxed, even careless approach in the US with 10x as many deaths.
Strange world.
The contrast is striking.
Anxiety, even paranoia in India with it's 10K deaths and a relaxed, even careless approach in the US with 10x as many deaths.
Strange world.
