Day 14 - Cochin to Udaipur

Our fist and only internal flight of the trip today and taxi to the airport is booked room packed and now the lazy wait until midday to farewell And say hello to Udaipur.

We chill out in the hotel courtyard restaurant and our stay at the Rossitta Wood Castle has been pleasant. The only downer is the EFT machine is not working so have to give up the cash to pay for the room.

It's lucky we booked to taxi half an hour earlier than the hotel recommended as the estimated driving time of 45 minutes turned out to be an hour and a half. Upon arrival at the airport, hand luggage is immediately scanned upon entry to the airport - which seems pointless if you are not scanning actual large checked luggage - but let's just go with the flow as this is not the most annoying part of the trip.

Then prior to getting in tickets and checking in - you go to separate location to have you actual luggage scanned. Following that you walk back to the ticket counter having got a sticker in your bag to collect your passes, and, finally check in is done. We are told that our 35 minute connection (now to Mumbai) is actually a different plane and will have to be pretty quick on getting to the transfer. She recommends we let one of the flight attendants know and they will assist.

Another hand luggage scanning point - another? And body scan/pat down and we are in the waiting room. Here I buy some sparkling apple juice 500ml this is important later!

Considering the short flight time of 1 hour 45 minutes to Mumbai, they we still able to serve a plane full of meals and tea or coffee. The food is not bad for airplane food and consisted of veg or non veg options.

The plane departed a little late from Cochin but arrived 10 mins early in Mumbai. On the flight we mentioned to the attendant of our short transition as we had been told but the most we got was - hmmm you might make it!

After the plane lands, we have to get on a shuttle which take forever to leave as people dwardle around on the air strip and there goes the 10 mins we made in flight time. Mumbai airport has no directional signage... NONE! And we are told to go two different ways finally we reach were we are supposed to be and even though we have not left the airport at all - there is another hand luggage chef and body screening which is packed! Standing in line with 10 mins til our gate closes panic sets in about making the flight. The checkpoint is tedious and from what we can see mostly irrelevant as we have just got on a plane and have not left the secure area. My bag goes through with no problems even though liquid is limited to 100ml ... Except I have 400ml of pressurised apple juice inside! So not so secure. We run to our gate to find that our plane is delayed 15 mins (possibly to wait for passengers making the connection.

Another hour on the Tarmac and a short flight 1 hour, meal service, we are in Udaipur to start the Northern India journey of the trip and our half way point.

A quick taxi ride to the hotel and we end up on the roof top with an amazing view of the lake and lit up hotels, castle and buildings. Magnificent start and introduction to Udaipur - excited for what awaits tomorrow.